Berlusconi: “Government Must Carry On”

Former PM tells 1,500 supporters: “I am in-no-cent and I will not give in”. “The worst days of my life. I have never issued false invoices. This is a regime”

Berlusconi: “Government Must Carry On”

Former PM tells 1,500 supporters: “I am in-no-cent and I will not give in”. “The worst days of my life. I have never issued false invoices. This is a regime”

Both sides of Via del Plebiscito are closed off. About 1,500 Berlusconi supporters throng the street and almost as many old Forza Italia flags wave beneath the stand erected at Palazzo Grazioli. All eyes are focused on the platform, waiting for the “convict” or “persecution victim” – depending on your point of view – to appear. At 6.16 pm, Silvio Berlusconi duly mounts the steps, to the notes of the national anthem. “Your affection makes up for so much pain. If you have defied the 4 August heat, I feel a duty to step up to the mark again on your behalf”.

SUPPORT FOR LETTA – Mr Berlusconi continued, urged on by his supporters: “Let no one try to tell us that this demonstration is subversive. Or that we are irresponsible. The government must carry on and Parliament must press ahead to pass the economic measures that have been adopted”. In other words, full support for Letta.

“I AM IN-NO-CENT” – The former PM then moved on to the reason for the demonstration: “Over the past few days I have suffered as never before. But I say to you, loud and clear”, he went on, enunciating each syllable separately, “I am in-no-cent. I have never issued false invoices. And I never called my company while I was prime minister because certain people would have raised the conflict of interest issue”.

IDEOLOGY-DRIVEN JUDGES – Mr Berlusconi’s next target was the judiciary: “Part of the magistracy belongs to a strongly ideology-driven faction. And states in its legal proceedings that adherents must use the awful power of depriving citizens of their freedom to help the people to have democracy. And democracy”, according to the judges, “is only possible if the Left is in government”. Mr Berlusconi repeated his old refrain: “The magistracy eliminated the parties of the First Republic and then me. A condition that obtains only in regimes”.

“I WILL NOT GIVE IN” – After a quarter of an hour, Mr Berlusconi again thanked his supporters, “who do not know envy”. He promised: “I am staying here. I will not give in. We will all come together to fight this battle for democracy and freedom”. Mr Berlusconi said “thank you” three times, the anthems struck up and the flags began to wave again. Later, about fifty diehard supporters assembled behind Palazzo Grazioli to chant: “Du-ce, Du-ce, Du-ce”. Mr Berlusconi was smiling. But support for the government continues. For the time being.